George North: I signed for Northampton Saints to be a title winner

He is the hottest property in European rugby: a key factor in helping Wales to
another Six Nations crown, one of the standout stars of a triumphant British
and Irish Lions tour and now looking forward to ripping into the Aviva
Premiership following his move from Scarlets to Northampton Saints.

Big ambition: George North is determined to win trophies with his new club, NorthamptonPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

However, George North’s dream six months does not appear to have sated his craving for success. Instead, the 21-year-old – whose lethal combination of speed, balance and frightening physicality made him the Lions’ most potent weapon in Australia and turned him into a household name in the process – is determined to keep looking forward, not back.

“I have not had a chance to win much with the Scarlets. That was one of the reasons I was keen to come to Northampton,” said North, who shot to prominence on the world stage by scoring two stunning tries during the Lions’ victory in the opening Test of the series in Brisbane.

“They have been in the hunt for the Premiership for a few years now and they have been in Europe. The boys have made me very welcome from day one.

“It is not difficult to enjoy a Lions series when you come off the back of a win. I got a bit of time off, got to go away, see my family and my girlfriend and have a few days to chill. But it is nice also to get back to work now.”

That prospect is made even more enticing by the company North is now keeping at Northampton.

He has been joined at Franklin’s Gardens by England international Alex Corbisiero, another who shone in Australia, as he added to North’s try in the series-clinching third Test win in Sydney: the pair have already been nicknamed “the Lions kings” by their new team-mates.

North, who turned down interest in France to join Saints, has enjoyed the afterglow of that remarkable victory but there is a price to be paid. As the new season approaches, North admits his remarkable form with the Lions is likely to bring extra pressure to hit the ground running at his new club.

“That is the nature of the beast. If you perform well, people expect you to be up there,” he said.

“I have come here to perform and hopefully I can do that but I am human and everyone has their off days, so hopefully I can get into the vibe quickly.

“I am really happy to be here and I have come here to perform. The Premiership is seen in Wales as a forwards game. With Alex King coming in [as backs coach] we have a great chance to play some attacking rugby. We have a great back three here.”

North’s move to Northampton was not without its controversy. The Welsh Rugby Union accused the Scarlets of effectively touting him to French clubs at the end of last year and his eventual transfer to the Saints required the final year of his contract to be bought out, at a cost of more than £200,000.

Yet it now stands out as like the signing of the season.

Former Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan compared North’s wonder try against Australia in the first Test in Brisbane to Brian O’Driscoll’s famous score against the same opposition on the 2001 tour and his fireman’s lift of Wallaby wing Israel Folau as he attempted to tackle the Welshman remains a hit on YouTube.

“I left on good terms,” North said. “Simon Easterby and Mark Jones [Scarlets coaches] understood the whole reasons behind the move. Given my situation I felt it was the right thing to do to move away for a bit and get the experience.”

It is easy to see why North’s signing has caused such excitement among the Saints’ supporters despite the high-profile exits of props Brian Mujati and Soane Tonga’uhia to Racing Métro.

His acquisition will almost certainly be complemented, too, by Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder’s shrewd recruitment of King from Clermont Auvergne.

The Saints were Premiership runners-up last season and Heineken Cup finalists in 2011 but, as they prepare for the Premiership opener at home against Exeter on Saturday, there is genuine expectation that North’s hopes of domestic silverware can be realised.

For one, they can also call on Corbisiero. The prop, who has joined from London Irish, was not even originally selected for the Lions tour Down Under – he was only called up as an injury replacement for Cian Healy – but his performances in Australia elevated him to a new level and he shares North’s bullishness about his prospects for the new season.

“The boys here put down a bit marker to show what they are capable of last season,” said Corbisiero, who celebrated North’s try in the third Test by running over to the Welshman and shouting “Northampton Saints”.

“The squad will learn from those experiences and the club have made some good signings, with guys like George and [Ollie] Kahn. I am happy to be here and we will only go forward and upwards.

“The minimum is the top four but guys want to play in that final and win it. I have wanted it for so long and I will really push myself to get there.

“You want to play in the big games and have an opportunity to win trophies and experience those things in your career. This is the perfect place for me to do that.”

Premiership signings

Gavin Henson (Bath)

It is two years since Henson last played international rugby but the Welsh utility back continues to make the headlines, mostly for the wrong reasons. Henson was involved in a bar room fracas with new Bath team-mate Carl Fearns shortly after he arrived from London Welsh.

George Ford (Bath)

A candidate to be in England’s squad at the next World Cup, Ford opted to leave Leicester and link up with his father Mike, Bath’s head coach, at The Rec. Ford, 20, has yet to be capped by England at senior level but the fly-half has impressed for the Saxons and was IRB Junior Player of the Year in 2011.

Alex Corbisiero (Northampton)

Confidence high after a starring role in the British and Irish Lions series win in Australia, Corbisiero has opted for a fresh start with Northampton having moved from London Irish. The loosehead prop played in the first second Tests in Australia having been summoned from England’s summer tour to Argentina.

Matt Kvesic (Gloucester)

Just two England caps to his name so far, both on the summer tour to Australia, but Kvesic is expected to win many more and the openside flanker is likely to be a key member of the 2015 World Cup squad. Signed by Gloucester from Worcester on the recommendation of Andrew Stanley, the new forwards coach at Kingsholm, who signed Kvesic when he was in charge of Worcester’s academy.

Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

The number eight made a try-scoring debut against Argentina in Salta and has opted to make the short move from Wasps to link up with elder brother Mako, the British and Irish Lions prop, at Allianz Park. Vunipola was born in Sydney, his father Fe’ao played for Tonga but he qualifies for England through residency.

Nick Kennedy (Harlequins)

Four years since he won the last of his seven England caps but still an aggressive line-out forward as Kennedy demonstrated in the latter stages of last season’s Heineken Cup with Toulon. Opted to return to the Premiership after just one season in France to link up again with Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea who previously coached him at London Irish.